Nationality: United StatesExecutive summary: US Senator from Virginia, 1789-90

Military service: Continental Army

The United States Senator William Grayson was born in Prince William County, Virginia; he died in Dumfries, Virginia, 12 March 1790. He was graduated at the University of Oxford, England, and studied law at the Temple in London. He then returned to the colonies, settled in Dumfries, and entered on the practice of his profession. He was appointed aide-de-camp to George Washington on 24th August 1776, became colonel of a Virginia regiment on 1st January following, and distinguished himself at the battle of Monmouth in 1778. He was a commissioner on the board of war in 1780-81; a commissioner to treat with Sir William Howe respecting prisoners while the army was at Valley Forge; a member of the Continental Congress in 1784-87; a member of the Virginia convention of 1788 on the adoption of the Federal constitution, and was one of the minority who opposed the ratification. He was one of the Senators from Virginia to the 1st Congress, taking his seat on 21st May 1789, and serving until his death.